Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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TOP IMPACT FIRST-YEARS 1. Defensive Tackle Andrew Brown — The Gatorade National Player of the Year, Brown was a five-star pros- pect who turned down dozens of offers to choose UVa. Having enrolled early, he's already accustomed to the rigors of being a student-athlete at Virginia. Given his mix of power and speed, he should fit right into what the Wahoos want to do defensively. 2. Safety Quin Blanding — Rivals.com's Mike Farrell has said that Blanding wasn't just the best safety pros- pect nationally in the class of 2014, but also one of the two or three best prospects at that position that Farrell has ever evaluated. Given his on-field IQ and how well he sees the field combined with his range and athleticism, Blanding will fit like a glove alongside Harris in coordinator Jon Tenuta's secondary and he'll give the Cavaliers another big-play threat in the defensive backfield. 3. Wide Receiver Jamil Kamara — At 6-2, 210 pounds, the Virginia Beach native is a first-down ma- chine. But he's more than just a possession receiver in that his route running and footwork are what made him one the nation's top wideout prospects. In terms of what UVa needs, Kamara is a sure-handed workhorse who thrives with every ball that comes his way. 4. Offensive Guard Steven Moss — UVa's offensive line could be a work in progress this season, and the value of adding a tough, aggressive lineman like Moss cannot be overstated. Though he wasn't always a pros- pect who shined on the camp circuit, he's got a mean streak that shows when the pads go on. Depending on needs, Moss can do a little bit of ev- erything. 5. Offensive Tackle Jake Fieler — The other mid- year enrollee for UVa this past January, Fieler is a versa- tile lineman who showed this spring that he has the ap- titude and ability to be an early contributor if called on. What he lacks in athleticism he makes up for in his size and his football IQ. BY BRAD FRANKLIN A FTER A DISAPPOINTING SEASON LAST YEAR, UVA WILL BE LOOKING to get back on track this fall when the Cavaliers again face a daunting schedule both in the ACC and outside of it. The development of several quality recruiting classes combined with losing only a handful of starters from last year give head coach Mike London and the Wahoos some reason for optimism. The biggest question mark for Virginia going into London's fifth year at the helm will center around the offense, where the Cavaliers lost two NFL Draft picks from the offensive line and look to be mak- ing a change at the quarterback position. As talented as the Hoos are, and with as much experience as coordinator Steve Fairchild has returning, it could be an intriguing year for that side of the ball. Meanwhile, coordinator Jon Tenuta's defense could be one of the league's best. Though the Cavaliers lost a pair of quality defensive linemen to the pros, they add one familiar face back to the mix as well as the nation's top tackle (Andrew Brown) and safety (Quin Blanding) recruits. It's also going to be the second year for London's retooled coaching staff, meaning players will have a great deal more familiarity with the schemes and systems in all three phases of the game. But there were two staff changes following last season, with the departures of Anthony Poindexter and Vincent Brown opening up places for veterans Mike Archer and Jappy Oliver to take over at safeties and defensive line, respectively. All told, the schedule will be tough, but UVa will boast a much more experienced, much more explo- sive team than it did a season ago. Here's a breakdown of what to look for from the Cavaliers this season.